According to Variety, Warner Bros. is waiting to see how Snyder's Superman reboot does with audiences "before moving further ahead" with "Justice League," the DC Comics answer to "Marvel's The Avengers" and the studio's hopeful mega-franchise. In the highly unlikely scenario that "Man of Steel" flops, it could spell trouble for "Justice League."

Warner Bros. has yet to hire a director for "Justice League," but the pieces are in place for the movie to exist. Will Beall ("Gangster Squad") is writing the script, and the has narrowed down the League members to five: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Flash.

Snyder has been a geek whipping boy of late because of his work on "Watchmen" and "Sucker Punch," neither of which seemed to satisfy internet commenters nor audiences: "Watchmen" earned just $185 million worldwide (its reported budget was $130 million), while "Sucker Punch" was an outright flop. The 2011 film grossed just $89 million around the globe.

Fortunately for everyone involved in "Man of Steel," there's great hope: The first trailers for the film have been universally praised, and Christopher Nolan (gag) is the executive producer of the Superman film.

"I actually feel guilty talking about ['Man of Steel'] because I'm sitting here having nothing to do to it," Nolan told THR. "I try to be as supportive as I can, and I'm just amazed by what [Snyder] is doing. It's not something I would know how to do."